The Good & The Bad: Police Officers and Dealing With DUIs

Like we discussed in our previous post, fame and money won’t make you immune to the possibility of being charged with a DUI. With former quarterback Donovan McNabb sentenced to jail time after his DUI arrest, we’ve seen plenty of well-known individuals deal with the consequences of driving under the influence. After all, consider the fact that even Michael Phelps, a man considered to be one of the greatest athletes of our time, has made headlines for his DUI arrest. Phelps just recently spoke up about his struggles during that time and admitted that he had feelings of “not wanting to be alive anymore.” Feelings of hopelessness and depression can be pretty common for anyone who is faced with the consequences of DUI.

So, we know that money and fame won’t grant you immunity from the consequences of a DUI, but what about for those with positions of power? Police officers, for example, have been accused in many instances of escaping repercussions because of their association with the law. Does this hold true for police officers and DUI? Police officers can get a pretty bad rap in the media when it comes to the law, their behavior, and abuse of power, but that’s not always the case. Let’s take a look at few stories that have made news recently in relation to police and DUIs.

The Good: Police Thanked After Arresting Man for DUI

For individuals charged with a DUI, it can be an emotional and stressful time. They can often revert to blaming other individuals for their DUI. More often, those charged with DUI can feel aggression toward the police officer that arrested them. This is why Tyrone, Georgia police officer, Jacob Collins was so surprised to get a letter thanking him for a DUI arrest.

The man was arrested in July of this year for DUI and later he was fined and put on probation. In the letter, the man explains he was severely intoxicated at the time and is grateful for Officer Collins. He said the officer acted in a very polite and professional way and never made the man feel ridiculed or threatened.

He wrote, “I do not like being on probation, and I do not enjoy paying a series of fines, fees, and insurance hikes; however I am grateful to be alive. I thank Officer Collins and your entire department.”

The Police of Tyrone, Georgia shared the letter to show that the relationship between the public and the police doesn’t always have to be negative, even when there’s an arrest. Instead of being upset with police, the man took responsibility for his actions and recognized that Officer Collins did his job in a great manner.

The Bad: Police Shows Up Drunk to MADD Event

Now that we’ve looked at a positive case regarding police and DUIs, let’s take a look at another case of the opposite side of the spectrum. A Florida cop recently made headlines for showing up for a Mothers Against Drunk Driving conference so drunk that he couldn’t walk straight.

Officer Michael Szeliga was receiving an award for making over 100 DUI arrests and it’s assumed he drove himself drunk to the conference. Officer Szeliga denies that he drove drunk. His supervisors sent him back to his hotel room after noticing how intoxicated he was. He ended up missing out on the rest of the conference and his award. Officer Szeliga was later punished by being given a day of paid suspension and was forced to write an apology letter. Since the incident, Szeliga has endured an onslaught of critical comments about his behavior.

The Final Verdict? No One is Exempt From The Dangers and Repercussions of a DUI

We’ve looked at the great things that police officers do to keep our roads safe from drunk drivers and a case where the officer made the very same mistake many people make. So, what can we gather from these cases? Anyone can make a mistake, and that can include making the poor decision to drive while intoxicated.

If you happen to be in the process of dealing with the consequences of a DUI, you’ll need an experienced attorney on your side. Contact the Weingart Firm to get the best possible result for your case. To get started today, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule your no-obligation case review!